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Article Title: Gender Differences In Coping Strategies For Academic Stress Among Postgraduate Students In Universities In Bayelsa State
by Amaegbe Emmanuel Ikuromotimi and Prof. Maliki Agnes Ebi

Abstract:
This study examined gender differences in coping strategies for academic stress among postgraduate students in universities in Bayelsa State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, with a population of 1,223 postgraduate students and a sample of 340 respondents selected through systematic sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire titled Gender and Coping Strategies for Academic Stress Questionnaire (GCSASQ), validated by experts in Educational Measurement and Evaluation and pilot-tested for reliability (Cronbach Alpha = 0.83). Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while independent samples t-test was employed to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that male postgraduate students reported higher usage of coping strategies (mean = 2.56, SD = 1.13) compared to female students (mean = 1.87, SD = 0.82), indicating that males engage more frequently in a wider range of coping mechanisms. Both male and female students, however, showed reliance on maladaptive strategies such as suppression and behavioral disengagement. The t-test result (t = 6.38, df = 338, p < 0.05) confirmed a significant difference in coping strategies between male and female students. The study concluded that gender significantly affects coping strategy adoption and highlighted a general underutilization of effective coping mechanisms among postgraduate students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that universities develop gender-sensitive counselling programs, provide training on adaptive coping strategies, and strengthen institutional support systems to enhance students� stress management and academic resilience. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Gender Differences In Coping Strategies For Academic Stress Among Postgraduate Students In Universities In Bayelsa State Amaegbe Emmanuel Ikuromotimi and Prof. Maliki Agnes Ebi Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Faculty Of Education, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: Amaegbe Emmanuel Ikuromotimi ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT This study examined gender differences in coping strategies for academic stress among postgraduate students in universities in Bayelsa State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, with a population of 1,223 postgraduate students and a sample of 340 respondents selected through systematic sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire titled Gender and Coping Strategies for Academic Stress Questionnaire (GCSASQ), validated by experts in Educational Measurement and Evaluation and pilot-tested for reliability (Cronbach Alpha = 0.83). Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while independent samples t-test was employed to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that male postgraduate students reported higher usage of coping strategies (mean = 2.56, SD = 1.13) compared to female students (mean = 1.87, SD = 0.82), indicating that males engage more frequently in a wider range of coping mechanisms. Both male and female students, however, showed reliance on maladaptive strategies such as suppression and behavioral disengagement. The t-test result (t = 6.38, df = 338, p < 0.05) confirmed a significant difference in coping strategies between male and female students. The study concluded that gender significantly affects coping strategy adoption and highlighted a general underutilization of effective coping mechanisms among postgraduate students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that universities develop gender-sensitive counselling programs, provide training on adaptive coping strategies, and strengthen institutional support systems to enhance students� stress management and academic resilience. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords:

Keywords: Gender Differences, Coping Strategies, Academic Stress, Postgraduate Students, Bayelsa State

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